A study on human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell regulated the growth and function of human liver cell in vitro

Abstract

Objective To investigate the mechanism of human liver cell's function and growth regulated by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.Methods The experimental group,human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells / primary hepatocytes by 1 × 105/1 × 105(cells / well) were seeded in the Transwell co-culture plates; the control group,liver cells (1 × 105 cells / well) were cultured alone ; then cell cycle analysis by flowcytometry after cultured for 1,3,7 d.enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay was to detect Albumin (ALB) secretion and urea; and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was to analyse ALB,cytokeratin 18 (CK18),hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-met in primary hepatocytes.Results Cells in s phase in co-cultured group were more than control group and the proliferative effect was more and more as time goes by,the difference was statistically significant (55.71％ ＞44.53％ ＞36.02 ％ ＞29.13％,P ＜0.05).The secretion of ALB and urea in the co-cultured cells were more than control group (μg/L).In the same manner with the result (21.18 ＞ 17.12,30.90＞13.46,15.14＞8.80,P ＜0.05; 211.18＞190.40,280.84＞75.64,152.06＞33.90,P＜0.05).In the co-culture groups,when co-cultured 3d,urea and albumin reached its peak,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05),and co-cultured primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) still maintain a high level of urea and albumin secretion in d7 ; compared with the control group,the RNA levels of ALB,CK18,HGF and c-met increased CK18.Conclusion Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can promote the proliferation of primary human hepatocytes through paracrine mechanisms.HGF and its receptor were up-regulated in the human primary hepatocytes may be one of the mechanisms. Key words: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell; Liver cell; Regulate